2026 KC Racial Justice Summit
On Saturday, November 7th the KC Disciples Becoming Beloved Community Team held the fourth annual KC Racial Justice Summit! We hope everyone learned something new from their workshop, connected with other justice-focused KC individuals, and committed to joining one of the many racial justice organizations featured.
If you would like to be involved in the planning of the 2027 Racial Justice Summit, please complete this form. Our 5th annual summit is scheduled for Saturday, November 6th, 2027. We will begin the brainstorming and planning process in January. Join the planning team: https://forms.gle/uQMTqj8VDGUjR3CP8
Our keynote speaker was Rev. Dr. Hanna R. Broome. You can watch our worship service here.
Rev. Dr. Hanna R. Broome is an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, womanist theologian, preacher, public theologian, social activist, and national faith organizer whose ministry moves intentionally between the pulpit and the public square. Her work stands at the intersection of biblical interpretation, pastoral leadership, civic engagement, public theology, grassroots organizing, and justice-rooted community transformation.
With more than two decades of ordained ministry and pastoral leadership, Dr. Broome has served the AME Zion Church as pastor of Smalls Chapel AME Zion Church in Winnsboro, South Carolina, and Catawba Chapel AME Zion Church in Catawba, South Carolina, and later as Presiding Elder of the Dunn-Lillington District of the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District.
These experiences shaped a ministry philosophy that understands the church not simply as a place of worship, but as an institution capable of cultivating leaders, organizing communities, confronting injustice, healing harm, and participating in the repair of public life.
Nationally, Dr. Broome serves as National Director of Religious Affairs for Repairers of the Breach, where she coordinates clergy, faith communities, denominational leaders, and grassroots partners across the United States and beyond. Her work engages public theology, nonviolent direct action, faith-rooted organizing, civic engagement, and moral movement building around issues including poverty, voting rights, health care, economic justice, immigration, democracy, and the protection of vulnerable communities.
She also serves as Executive Director of Project 100 Civic Engagement within the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, leading efforts to equip congregations for year-round voter education, civic participation, community organizing, and democratic engagement. Her approach insists that civic engagement cannot be reduced to Election Day alone; it requires sustained political education, relationship-building, organizing, public accountability, and the development of community power.
Dr. Broome's work in congregational and community transformation extends into institutional development. She serves as Program Manager for the Flourishing Congregations Initiative at Varick Community Development Corporation, equipping pastors and congregations for sustainable ministry, organizational resilience, community engagement, and neighborhood impact. She also serves in regional leadership with the Oikos Institute for Social Impact, helping faith communities strengthen their capacity for social impact and community-centered ministry.
Stay connected with our workshop organizations:
Tactical Empathy led by Dr. Nicole Price from Lively Paradox
In racial justice work, we often hear the phrase, “I just don’t understand.” It sounds honest—even humble. But more often than not, it’s a stopping point, not a starting point.
Because when we move beyond our initial reactions & stop projecting our own thinking, feelings, & beliefs onto others, most human behavior becomes understandable. Not acceptable. Not excusable. But explainable. And explanation is power.
Without that level of understanding, we default to frustration, moral arguments, or disengagement. We stay stuck—arguing with reality instead of influencing it.
This session introduces tactical empathy as a disciplined, skill-based approach to understanding people with precision.
Place-Based Racial Equity led by Lora McDonald from More2
Lora McDonald of MORE2 shares detailed work and plans about everything from Brush Creek to the County Jail. This workshop is about how ordinary people can get involved in these fights for justice.
In this workshop, you will learn the difference between advocacy and organizing. You will learn about how one organization, MORE2, specifically organizes people who are formerly incarcerated, immigrants, and others directly impacted by the issues they want to address.
The Spirit of the Struggle, led by Tatyana Younger from the KC Survival Network, Kairos Center
Throughout history, people organizing for liberation have used songs, slogans, Scripture, symbols, stories, and visual art to build courage, create solidarity, name injustice, and imagine a different world. In this interactive workshop, we'll explore how creative expression becomes a tool for organizing. We'll sing, create, engage movement art, and explore Scripture. Drawing on lessons learned through the creation of the KC Survival Revival, we will consider how faith and culture can help movements not only respond to injustice but also build the collective imagination and power needed to create a different world.
The Case for Reparations, led by Terri Barnes, Chair of the Mayor’s Commission on Reparations and Bill Tammeus longtime Kansas City journalist and columnist
If justice requires us to tell the truth about what happened, and love requires us to respond when harm has been done, what does repair require of us?”This presentation will explore the history and impact of policies and practices that harmed Black Kansas Citians and contributed to disparities in housing, health, education, economic opportunity and criminal justice.
Where we are and where we're going: Homelessness in KC, led by Kate Schulte from HouseKC
What does homelessness look like in Kansas City today, and what is being done to address it? This workshop will explore the current state of homelessness in our community, highlight public initiatives such as the Housing Gateway Program, and look at the challenges and opportunities ahead. Most importantly, we’ll talk about how each of us, as neighbors, can play a role in supporting people experiencing homelessness and building a more welcoming and housing-focused community.
Know your rights, know your immigrant community, led by Trinidad Raj from AIRR KC
This workshop will cover the fundamental constitutional rights you should know to protect our immigrant communities. If you see ICE activity in your city, do you know what to do? We'll go over your options and practice scenarios. This training covers legal and non-escalatory action.
Context of Faith and Civil Rights: The Intersection of Spirituality and Politics, led by Rev. Dr. Rodney Williams and Nimrod Chapel, representing the NAACP Missouri
The participants can plan to learn how civil rights and faith work together to build a healthy church.
Building a framework for Justice Advocacy: Relationship Building and collaboration, led by Rev. Dr. Chris Wilson, from Saint Andrew Christian Church
Justice Advocacy does not happen with a simple desire. It is built on a strategic effort of relationship building that is justice driven. The relationship building is what creates the potential for sustainable collaboration to widen and strengthen a larger voice for justice. This workshop will share the power of one-on-one conversations across the country and its larger impact on local justice efforts. The workshop will close with steps people can take to put these ideas into practical plans going forward.
Our award recipients
The Kansas City Disciples Becoming Beloved Community Team honored El Centro with the “Arc Bender of the Year” award. In gratitude for the empowering work they do to build a base of compassionate, justice-minded co-conspirators across Wyandotte County committed to advocating for critical social, economic, and racial justice issues, particularly with the Latino community.
For 50 years, El Centro has stood alongside Latino and immigrant communities, working to advance equity, opportunity, and justice through education, health, wealth building, and advocacy. Rooted in community trust, our work is grounded in a simple belief: every person deserves to live with dignity, security, and the opportunity to thrive.
At a time when fear, misinformation, and systemic barriers threaten our communities, El Centro remains committed to empowering families with knowledge, resources, and a voice. Through our Know Your Rights education, Spanish-language voter registration and early voting outreach, and asset protection planning for immigrant and mixed-status households, we help families safeguard their futures, exercise their rights, and participate meaningfully in decisions that impact their lives.
We believe that informed and engaged communities are powerful communities. By building partnerships, developing community leadership, and advocating for policies that advance equity and inclusion, El Centro works to ensure that those most impacted by injustice are not only heard but are leading the way toward lasting change.
Because bending the arc toward justice requires more than hope. It requires collective action, courage, and an unwavering commitment to one another.
Janay Reliford
The Kansas City Disciples Becoming Beloved Community Team honored Janay Reliford as the 2026 recipient of the “ Rev. Mary Lou Kegler and Rev. Bill Rose-Heim Award for Igniting Collaborative Action for Racial Justice.” For the intensive and necessary work she does for reparations in Kansas City and for her personal commitment to racial justice.
Janay Reliford is a Kansas City native and attained a master’s degree in social work administration from the University of Kansas in 2004. In 2006, Reliford founded Camp C.H.O.I.C.E. (Children Having Opportunities in Creating Environment), Inc., with the mission of providing youth life enrichment experiences to benefit their present and future spiritual, educational & social well-being. In 2020, Reliford began volunteering with the KC Reparations Coalition (KCRC) and became chair in 2023. KCRC’s work led to the passing of a city resolution in support of HR40 in 2022, and the Mayor’s Commission on Reparations, seated in May of 2023. The same year, in response to political attempts to defame and erase Black history, Camp CHOICE began offering “African History Saturdays” to the public.
Reliford is passionate about family, community, advocacy, and justice, which her work uplifts. She has been honored with awards such as “Women of Courage” Mothers of Incarcerated sons and Daughters (2013), “Community Changer” The U Church (2014), “Community Leadership” (2023), “Community Impact” International Black Hat Society, “Charles Miller Black Liberation Award” Black United Front-KC (2024), and Black Women are Divine” Black Lives Matter Minnesota (2025), Mountaintop Inc. Legacy of Excellence (2026).
Additional tabling organizations:
The fastest-growing demographic in the rapidly changing spiritual landscape of America is “spiritual but not religious.” Spirituality Adventures is a nonjudgmental place to explore spirituality.
Kansas Interfaith ActionKansas Interfaith Action is a statewide, multi-faith issue-advocacy organization that “puts faith into action” by educating, engaging, & advocating on behalf of people of faith & the public regarding critical social, economic, & climate justice issues.
Boots on the Ground - Midwest We’re a non-partisan, volunteer-led organization in the Midwest. From rural crossroads to city blocks, we organize locally, lead with actions, and show up for one another.
National Congress of Black Women - KC ChapterWe are a powerful network of women committed to leadership, advocacy, and community impact. Through education, civic engagement, and economic empowerment, we create opportunities that uplift women, youth, and families across Kansas City.
Dialogue Institute of Kansas CityDialogue Institute is building mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation at the grassroots level among people of diverse faiths and cultures, with the ultimate intention of contributing to global peace. Founded by Muslim Turkish-Americans affiliated with Hizmet Movement, Dialogue Institute is sharing their unique heritage of acceptance and understanding across cultural and religious lines, and is integrating these citizens into American society by addressing their educational, social, religious, and cultural needs. Dialogue Institute is also serving the greater Kansas City community through events and programs that cultivate cross-cultural friendships, promote interfaith dialogue, build bridges between diverse groups, and encourage joint civic initiatives that meet the needs of our city.
The Becoming Beloved Community Team of the Christian Church (DOC) in Greater Kansas City started as the Region's pro-reconciling and anti-racism team in the spring of 2019. Recognizing that the church has been a part of starting and sustaining racism over the years, and recognizing that Jesus calls us to work for justice and equity, we seek to empower Greater KC Disciples to be a part of the movement for wholeness through education, relationship-building, and actions leveraging change.
Our Team is volunteer-led and operated. We consist of 10-15 pastors and laypeople from around the Greater KC Region.
Intersect KCIntersect KC’s vision is to become a hub for intersecting individuals, community, resources, leaders and causes for a thriving Kansas City where needs are met and everyone belongs.We believe there is more that unites us than divides us. Uniting around shared goals and community experiences,we can expand collective impact and help realize the visionof a vibrant Northeast neighborhood.
Our Mission
Connection: building meaningful and engaged communities across the Greater Kansas City Region.
Support: providing support for clergy and congregations in transition and pastoral care for all.
Celebrate: recognizing important milestones in the lives of congregations and Pastors which makes us better together.
Save the date for the 2027 Racial Justice Summit!
